SOUTHMONT SOFTBALL SECTIONAL: Eagles tame Wolves, advance to sectional final against Tiger Cubs

NEW MARKET — In game two of IHSAA Softball Class 2A Sectional No. 44 play Tuesday, South Putnam got up early with a three-run first and got excellent pitching behind the arm of Braylin Boruff to pick up a 6-1 sectional victory over the Parke Heritage Wolves, setting up a showdown with Greencastle on Wednesday.

Boruff was sharp early, striking out six of the first seven batters she faced. Only a lone single off the bat of Taya Sturmer was the only hit for the Wolves in the first two innings.

South took advantage early. Boruff started the bottom of the first, getting hit by a pitch and stealing second. Lilah Holderfield then singled to score Boruff.

Joscelyn Bumgardner, courtesy running for Holderfield, stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Adrie Burge walked and back-to-back singles from Emelia Wells and Danae Cline brought in two more runs to take a 3-0 lead.

That remained the score until the fifth. The Wolves led the inning off with a triple from Maddy Downs. Carly Newnum then brought her home with a single. After a hit batsmen, a nice 6-4-3 double play ended the threat of a bigger inning.

The Eagles would jump on their next opportunity. Holderfield singled and advanced on a fielding error. Alyssa Pingleton then lined hard to left field which would score Bumgardner; this also got by the fielder to advance Pingleton to second.

Burge followed by going yard, placing the ball over the right center field fence to put the Eagles up 6-1.

Boruff would hold Parke Heritage at bay for the final two innings, allowing just one more base runner to finish off the Wolves. She ended with 10 strikeouts with just one walk, one earned run while allowing just five hits.

Holderfield and Burge each had two hits, with Burge’s homer drove in two.

This will now set the table for something that has never been seen before, an all-Putnam County final in a sectional championship. The final is set for 6 p.m. at Southmont, with the winner scheduled to host the regional. This will be a rubber match, with Greencastle winning at County and South defeating Greencastle just a week ago. Expect this to be one of the most exciting events in a while.

Parke Heritage 000 010 0 — 1 5 3

South Putnam 300 030 X — 6 8 1

Pitching

South Putnam — Boruff (W) 7IP 5H 1BB 10K 1R 1ER

Parke Heritage — Tome (L) 4.1IP 8H 1BB 3K 6R 6ER; Crowder 1.2IP 0H 1BB 1K 0R 0ER

Batting — (SP) Burge 2-2, Holderfield 2-3, Boruff 1-2, Pingleton 1-3, Wells 1-2, Cline 1-3; (PH) Downs 2-4, Newnum 1-3, Sturmer 1-3, Cloncs 1-3

RBI — (SP) Burge 2, Holderfield, Pingleton, Wells; (PH) Newnum

2B — (PH) Downs

3B — (PH) Downs

HR — (SP) Burge

SB — (SP) Boruff, Holderfield

CS — (PH) Hartman

LOB — (SP) 2 (PH) 5